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Bitcoin might be the answer

0x006A 12y ago
http://www.newsbtc.com/2014/05/22/bitcoin-uganda-mans-one-way-exchange-bitcoins/ http://www.newsbtc.com/2014/05/22/bitcoin-uganda-mans-one-wa... ... So – a rather unfortunate situation indeed, but hopefully with time, another person in Ronald’s vicinity will be willing to exchange his bitcoins. Until then, it looks like MoneyGram it is.
tosbourn 12y ago
I had considered bitcoin, but until it is way more easy to use for non-tech folk I don't think it is much of an option. The services I have seen that make it easy for the non-tech have required American bank accounts.
- eru 12y ago
  You could take Ugandan currency, and make a big announcement somewhere that you are willing to buy bitcoin with it. Some enterprising person will come up with a way to deliver. (Though the sister comment about going via neighbouring Kenya seems more down-to-earth.)
exelius 12y ago
Bitcoin is only an answer if there is a liquid market between Bitcoin and the Ugandan currency.
IkmoIkmo 12y ago
It may be later this year or the one after. There's no real market in Uganda for bitcoin right now. If you hustle long enough you'll surely find someone looking to buy or sell, a local businessman or expat for example. But nothing structural. But Bitpesa has been pretty successful in neighbouring Kenya with a bitcoin remittance product, and has started to provide bitcoin liquidity because of it in Kenya. This means that already, if you'd have approached Bitpesa in the past months from Uganda, that it's likely quite easy to have procured bitcoin from them as Kenya-Uganda money transfer isn't the hardest thing in the world. (fun fact, Kenya's MPesa actually has a pretty significant presence in Uganda, too, and Bitpesa uses MPesa for their payouts) These bitcoins can easily be sold in most OECD countries particularly North America & Europe, but actually all continents nowadays to a large extent with the exception of Africa. But Bitpesa recently announced more official plans to move into new markets like Ghana, but also including Uganda. So bitcoin is a possible solution, although not necessarily as quick & easy as it can be, and likely will start to become, in the next few years as companies like Bitpesa expand and encourage other enterprises to follow suit.
- tosbourn 12y ago
  Thanks for this – I will look into this a bit more.

http://www.newsbtc.com/2014/05/22/bitcoin-uganda-mans-one-way-exchange-bitcoins/ http://www.newsbtc.com/2014/05/22/bitcoin-uganda-mans-one-wa... ... So – a rather unfortunate situation indeed, but hopefully with time, another person in Ronald’s vicinity will be willing to exchange his bitcoins. Until then, it looks like MoneyGram it is.

tosbourn 12y ago

I had considered bitcoin, but until it is way more easy to use for non-tech folk I don't think it is much of an option. The services I have seen that make it easy for the non-tech have required American bank accounts.

eru 12y ago
You could take Ugandan currency, and make a big announcement somewhere that you are willing to buy bitcoin with it. Some enterprising person will come up with a way to deliver. (Though the sister comment about going via neighbouring Kenya seems more down-to-earth.)

exelius 12y ago

Bitcoin is only an answer if there is a liquid market between Bitcoin and the Ugandan currency.

IkmoIkmo 12y ago

It may be later this year or the one after. There's no real market in Uganda for bitcoin right now. If you hustle long enough you'll surely find someone looking to buy or sell, a local businessman or expat for example. But nothing structural. But Bitpesa has been pretty successful in neighbouring Kenya with a bitcoin remittance product, and has started to provide bitcoin liquidity because of it in Kenya. This means that already, if you'd have approached Bitpesa in the past months from Uganda, that it's likely quite easy to have procured bitcoin from them as Kenya-Uganda money transfer isn't the hardest thing in the world. (fun fact, Kenya's MPesa actually has a pretty significant presence in Uganda, too, and Bitpesa uses MPesa for their payouts) These bitcoins can easily be sold in most OECD countries particularly North America & Europe, but actually all continents nowadays to a large extent with the exception of Africa. But Bitpesa recently announced more official plans to move into new markets like Ghana, but also including Uganda. So bitcoin is a possible solution, although not necessarily as quick & easy as it can be, and likely will start to become, in the next few years as companies like Bitpesa expand and encourage other enterprises to follow suit.

tosbourn 12y ago
Thanks for this – I will look into this a bit more.